Apparatus for irradiating liquids



Jan. 4, 1944.

s. c. WHITMAN APPARATUS FOR IRRADIATING LIQUIDS Original Filed April 4,1941 '(IIlI/IIIyMIIIIl/IIII TRANSFORMER HOUSING 6 WI TC hmfl m WMU W WMa 7 W WW m y r}. 3 W

IFS-f2 Patented Jan. 4, 1944 APPARATUS FOR IRRADIATING LIQUIDS Stewart0. Whitman, deceased, late of New York, N. Y., by Helen Whitman,administratrix, New

York, N. Y.

Original application April 4, 1941, Serial No. 386,936. Divided and thisapplication October 29, 1941, Serial No. 417,038

6 Claims. (01. 2250-45) This application is a division of an applicationfiled April 4, 1941, Serial No. 386,936, by

the said Stewart C. Whitman, deceased.

This invention relates to an apparatus for irradiating liquids, andparticularly to an apparatus for irradiating flowing liquids conductedfrom a source of supply to a suitable point of discharge for storage inreceptacles or for immediate use. More particularly the inventionrelates to an apparatus for dispensing beverages or other liquids andsubjecting the same for a suitable period to the sterilizing action ofultra-- violet rays as discharged or dispensed.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel construction ofapparatus whereby liquids, such as beer, Wines or other malt, spirituousor viscous liquids, milk, water or liquids of any kind, may be quicklyand economically irradiated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forsterilizing beer or other beverages while being dispensed through adischarge faucet in such manner as to enable the operation to be carriedout at low cost and without imparting an objectionable taste or odor tothe liquid.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby thesterilizer is rendered active when the faucet is opened and renderedinactive when the faucet is closed to secure economy of operation andprevent over exposure of the liquid to the ultraviolet radiation.

With these and other objects in View, which will appear in the course ofthe subjoined description, the invention consists of the novel featuresof construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafterdescribed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, showing anexemplificative type of apparatus embodying the invention and in which-Referring now more particularly to the drawing, I designates a faucetprovided with the usual valve plug 2 having an operating handle 3. Arelatively long irradiating chamber 4 is disposed at the back of thefaucet in a supply conpart of the faucet.. This chamber extends longi- Itudinally at right angles tothe faucet I and conductor 5 and encloses anultraviolet tube 5 which is, positioned substantially horizontally andaxially within the chamber. This tube comprises an elongated bodyportion or envelope ductor 5, which preferably forms an integral 55 l0and II to the screw base.

. 40 Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a dispens- 'l integrallyclosed at one end 8 and sealed at its Electrodes It opposite end by ascrew base 9. and II of crater type are disposed within the .tube atthe-ends thereof, and convenientlyattached toone of the electrodes is asuitable small container l2 containing a drop of mercury for furnishingthe necessary mercury vapor for operation. Leads I3 and [4 connectelectrodes tube shown having the respective electrodes at opposite endsof an elongated tube, it is necessary' to employ a long conductor l5forming a continuation of the lead l4 and extending substantially thefull length of the tube for attachment to electrode ll. In order toavoid the discharge forming at undesired points on conductor l5, insteadof on electrode II, it is desirable that conductor l5 be enclosed in' aninsulating glass tube'or glass beading I6. The form and arrangement ofthe electrodes is such that the discharge will be distributed throughoutthe full area; of the ene'velope to the interior of the chamber 4.

While a tube of the type described is preferably used, and as hereinshown is an effective type of the tube for the purpose, any othersuitable form and type of tube may be used.

The outer wallof the irradiating chamber is substantially cylindricaland coaxial with the ultraviolet tube, thereby forming between them anannular channelthrough which. water or other liquid from a cabinet ortank I! or other source.

of supply, with which the pipe 5 is connected.

flows in intimate contact with thewall or envelope of the ultraviolettube to the faucet A transformer I8 is provided for furnishing electricenergy at suitable voltage foroperating the ultraviolet discharge tube.This transformer may be detachably connectedwith one of the ends of thechamber 4, as indicated at Hi, to form a closure therefor, and thistransformer is provided with a suitable form of socket to receive thescrew end or plug 9 of the ultraviolet tube, whereby when the tube andtransformer are connected the tube may be properly coupled to thetrans.-i former to receive electric energy therefrom. Po-, sitioned inrearof thefaucet and suitably sup-v ported by or from the conductor 5,is a switch unit 20 for controlling the supply of electric en-l.

In the form ofergy from the transformer to the tube, and which may mostconveniently be placed in the primary circuit of the transformer. Thecontrol switch unit is provided with an actuating cam 2| projectingoutside of the unit housing and adapted for engagement with a camengaging pin 22 carried by the plug of the faucet or carried by andprojecting rearwardly from the faucet handle 3. The cam and switch unitare so arranged that when the valve plug 2 is positioned forshutting offthe flow of liquid to the faucet, the switch is in disconnectedposition, but when the valve plug 2 is turned by handle 3 to permitthefiow of liquid, the switch is closed and energy is supplied toenergize the ultraviolet discharge tube.

Leads 23 extending from switch unit 20 supply energy from a convenientcommercial source to the switch unit, and leads 24 extending between theswitch unit and transformer supply current to the latter.

In practice the ultraviolet tube may operate at either high or lowvoltage, and this tube may conveniently be one in which the tubeenvelope extends continuously in parallel or concentric relation to thewall of the chamber 4 so as to make the liquid flow passage of uniformwidth or depth at all points about the tube and between the same and thechamber. By this construction and rela tive arrangement of the tube andchamber walls an extremely simple construction of irradiating device maybe produced and which provides for a flow of a comparatively thin bodyof water or other liquid in intimate contact with a relatively largearea of ultraviolet irradiating surface of the tube before its deliveryto the faucet 'l and its discharge through the faucet, and, since thetube consumes energy only during the time that the liquid is flowing,the operating cost is low. This provision for energizing the ultravioletdischarge only when the liquid is flowing through the faucet, eliminatesany tendency toward imparting a musty or other undesirable taste to theliquid or of any objectionable odor being imparted to the liquid bybeing exposed for any extended period to the ultraviolet radiation.

From the foregoing description, taken inv connection with the drawing,the construction and mode of operation of the apparatus will be readilyunderstood and it will be seen that the invention provides an apparatusfor irradiating and dispensing liquids which is simple of con.-struction, efficient in operation and embodies the other desirableadvantages set forth. While the construction disclosed for purpose ofexemplification is preferred, it will, of course, be understood thatchanges in the form, arrangement and proportion of the parts may be madewithin the scope of the appended claims, without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed as new and patentable is:

1. In a liquid irradiating device, -a liquid supply pipe, a casingdisposed horizontally and at right angles to the pipe, said casing beingnormally open at one end and connected at one side thereof intermediateof its length to the pipe, a discharge faucet connected to the oppositeside of the casing at a point intermediate of its length, an ultravioletdischarge tube disposed coaxially within the casing and havingelectrodes at its opposite ends, conductors connected to the respectiveelectrodes and having terminals disposed at the end of the tube adjacentthe normally open end of the casing, a connection plug coupled to saidconductors, a transformer coupled to and closing the normally open endof the casing, said transformer having a conducting socket receivingsaid plug, and means operating automatically on the opening and closingmovements of the faucet for respectively connecting the transformer withand disconnecting it from a source of electric current.

2. An apparatus for irradiating liquids by means of ultraviolet rayscomprising a chamber through which the liquid flows, the chamber beingnormally open at one end, an inlet pipe leading to the chamber, anoutlet pipe leading from the chamber, an ultraviolet tube in the chamberhaving electrodes provided with terminals, a transformer at the Open endof the chamber having means associated therewith for closing the openend of the chamber and connecting the transformer with the terminals ofthe electrodes, a switch for connecting the transformer with ordisconnecting it from a source of current supply, a rotary valve in theoutlet pipe movable in opposite directions to open and closed positions,an operating handle connected to the valve, and a direct motiontransmitting connection between the valve and the switch including amember carried by and movable with the valve for closing the switch whenthe handle is turned to openthe valve and for opening the switch whenthe handle is turned to close the valve.

3. An apparatus for irradiating liquids by means of ultraviolet rayscomprising a chamber through which the liquid flows, an inlet pipeleading to the chamber, an outlet pipe leading from the chamber, at theopposite side thereof from the inlet pipe an ultraviolet tube in thechamber extending across spaced between the pipes in transverse relationto the pipes and having electrodes spaced from each other a distancedisposing them at opposite sides of the pipes and provided withterminals, a switch for connecting the electrode terminals with ordisconnecting them from a source of current supply said switch beingmounted upon the outlet pipe in front of said chamber, a rotary valve inthe outlet pipe having a handle movable in opposite directions to openand close the valve, and operating projection extending from the handleof said switch and an operating projection on the valve and engaging theoperative projection of the switch for closing the switch when thehandle is turned to open the valve and for opening the switch when thehandle is turned to close the valve.

4. An apparatus for irradiating liquids by means of ultraviolet rayscomprising a chamber through which the liquid flows, an inlet pipeleading to the chamber at one side thereof, an outlet pipe leading fromthe chamber at the opposite side of the chamber, an ultraviolet tube inthe chamber having electrodes spaced from each other a distancedisposing them at opposite sides of the inlet and the outlet andprovided with terminals, a switch for connecting the electrode terminalswith or disconnecting them from a source of current supply disposedexternally of the casing, a rotary valve in the outlet pipe movable inopposite directions to open and closed positions, said valve beingpositioned between the casing and said valve, an operating handleconnected to the valve, and a direct motion transmitting connectionbetween the switch and Valve p ng a cam p ojecting from the switchtowards the valve and a pin projecting from the valve towards the switchand engagin the cam to operate the switch, said pin moving with thevalve for closing the switch when the handle is turned to open the valveand for opening the switch when the handle is turned to close the valve.

5. In a liquid irradiating device, a liquid supply pipe, a casingdisposed at right angles to the pipe, said casing being normally open atone end and connected at one side thereof intermediate of its length tothe pipe, adischarge faucet connected to the opposite side of the casingat a point intermediate of its length, an ultraviolet discharge tubedisposed coaxially within the casing and having electrodes therein,conductors connected to the respective electrodes and having terminalsdisposed at the end of the tube adjacent the normally open end of thecasing, a detachable closure for the normally open end of the casing, atransformer carried by the closure, means operative on the attachment ofthe closure to and its detachment from the casing for respectivelyconnecting the transformer with and disconnecting it from the electrodeterminals, and means operated automatically by and on the opening andclosing movements of the faucet for respectively connecting thetransformer with and disconnecting it from a source of electric,current.

6. In a liquid irradiating device, a liquid supply pipe, a casingdisposed at right angles to the pipe, said casing being normally open atone end and connected at one side thereof intermediate of its length tothe pipe, a discharge faucet connected to the opposite side of thecasing at a point intermediate of its length, an ultraviolet dischargetube disposed coaxially within the casing and having electrodes at itsopposite ends,

conductors connected to the respective electrodes and having terminalsdisposed at the end of the tube adjacent the normally open end of theeasing, a detachable closure for the normally open end of the casing, atransformer carried by the closure, means operative on the attachment ofthe closure to and its detachment from the casing for respectivelyconnecting the transformer with and disconnecting it from the terminalsof the conductors, and means operating automatically by and on theopening and closing movements of the faucet for respectively connectingthe transformer with and. disconnecting it from a source of electriccurrent.

HELEN WHITMAN, Administratrix of the Estate of Stewart 0. Whitman,Deceased.

